soggy
on the pole
[EDIT #2]
**UPDATE***
I have resolved the issue. A HUGE thank you to every single person who contributed here. This would have been done a long time ago, but of course time became a problem with having a baby, covid madness, etc.
I went back in, disassembled the clutch again, replaced the few components I hadn't replaced the first time. These included the rest of the steel clutch plates which I didn't initially replace because they looked fine to my untrained eye. I also replaced the "spring seat and spring" this time, which just look like a large ring and a beveled ring to me, not sure they it is called a spring.
I'm not sure if those components were the cure, or if it was one error I made when replacing the friction plates initially. One of the friction plates has a larger internal diameter than the rest, and the manual calls for that one to be installed first.
Anyhow, the bike runs and shifts like a dream now, better than it has in years. I am still not certain what was wrong with the bike, but replacing the friction plates, steel plates, the clutch springs, "spring seat and spring," and a new clutch actuator & cable ultimately fixed the issue and results in the clutch/transmission feeling/operating as good as new.
Feeling good to have closure on this project as it was frustrating for an amateur mechanic such as myself. I'm glad I stuck with it and it was educational. Again, thanks to everyone who offered input and asked the right questions! I love this community.
[EDIT #1] Reviving post. This project was delayed because I had a baby and I'm unproductive, but the update is as follows: I replaced the clutch, filed the clutch basket smooth, replaced the clutch actuator and cable, replaced some of the washers behind clutch basket (no obvious wear) and the problem persists. When I pull in the clutch lever in first gear, the bike continues accelerating at idle speed, and the only way it stops is if I brake and stall the bike. When trying to shift gears the lever is rock solid and I really have to kick it to get the gear to change, especially downshifting, upshifting seems to be slightly easier but the clutch is hardly involved. The bike is obviously dangerous to ride with a constantly engaged clutch, but I have ridden it up to third gear and can get the clutch to slip a little bit when I wide open the throttle while pulling in the clutch lever all the way. What the heck is wrong with this bike? Any thoughts? It shifts smoothly and without issue when the bike is turned off and you are just rolling it around in the garage.
So, sold my buddy my dl650 2006 v-strom, well maintained but ridden hard for 55k. Now it's developed this problem so I'm (trying to) fix it for him.
The issue: start riding and shifting gets really sticky before it is impossible within riding just a few blocks. Mainly trying to downshift as coming to a stop. The shift lever won't budge. The problem goes away once you turn the bike off, rock it forward/back and then you can shift again (while the engine is not running). The odd other symptom is that while pulling in clutch but bike still accelerating much harder in first gear than most bikes do, like will crawl right up my driveway in first with the clutch pulled in. (lot of bikes do this a little bit I've noticed, but this is excessive).
So far I've adjusted the clutch at the top and bottom ends per manual, following instructions exactly, which seemed to fix the problem until you ride it for a couple of blocks, then it returned. Adjusted chain slack just for the heck of it, which did nothing of course. I called up TWF since they have so much experience with these and he told me to replace a washer behind the clutch hub/basket that gets worn out. I have the clutch removed so i'm replacing the clutch springs, clutch plates, and the aforementioned washer. The washer looks like it is in perfectly fine condition so I'm going to replace it but not confident it will fix the problem.
Basically asking if there is ANYTHING else you guys recommend I change out or inspect while I have the clutch cover removed. And of course any other thoughts/ideas about what is going on here. My personal mechanic told me changing the clutch would be his next step, and TWF offered the washer tip so I'm doing those. Parts are on order.
Thanks in advance for any ideas, I hope I've explained this well enough for the problem to be clear and make sense.
**UPDATE***
I have resolved the issue. A HUGE thank you to every single person who contributed here. This would have been done a long time ago, but of course time became a problem with having a baby, covid madness, etc.
I went back in, disassembled the clutch again, replaced the few components I hadn't replaced the first time. These included the rest of the steel clutch plates which I didn't initially replace because they looked fine to my untrained eye. I also replaced the "spring seat and spring" this time, which just look like a large ring and a beveled ring to me, not sure they it is called a spring.
I'm not sure if those components were the cure, or if it was one error I made when replacing the friction plates initially. One of the friction plates has a larger internal diameter than the rest, and the manual calls for that one to be installed first.
Anyhow, the bike runs and shifts like a dream now, better than it has in years. I am still not certain what was wrong with the bike, but replacing the friction plates, steel plates, the clutch springs, "spring seat and spring," and a new clutch actuator & cable ultimately fixed the issue and results in the clutch/transmission feeling/operating as good as new.
Feeling good to have closure on this project as it was frustrating for an amateur mechanic such as myself. I'm glad I stuck with it and it was educational. Again, thanks to everyone who offered input and asked the right questions! I love this community.
[EDIT #1] Reviving post. This project was delayed because I had a baby and I'm unproductive, but the update is as follows: I replaced the clutch, filed the clutch basket smooth, replaced the clutch actuator and cable, replaced some of the washers behind clutch basket (no obvious wear) and the problem persists. When I pull in the clutch lever in first gear, the bike continues accelerating at idle speed, and the only way it stops is if I brake and stall the bike. When trying to shift gears the lever is rock solid and I really have to kick it to get the gear to change, especially downshifting, upshifting seems to be slightly easier but the clutch is hardly involved. The bike is obviously dangerous to ride with a constantly engaged clutch, but I have ridden it up to third gear and can get the clutch to slip a little bit when I wide open the throttle while pulling in the clutch lever all the way. What the heck is wrong with this bike? Any thoughts? It shifts smoothly and without issue when the bike is turned off and you are just rolling it around in the garage.
So, sold my buddy my dl650 2006 v-strom, well maintained but ridden hard for 55k. Now it's developed this problem so I'm (trying to) fix it for him.
The issue: start riding and shifting gets really sticky before it is impossible within riding just a few blocks. Mainly trying to downshift as coming to a stop. The shift lever won't budge. The problem goes away once you turn the bike off, rock it forward/back and then you can shift again (while the engine is not running). The odd other symptom is that while pulling in clutch but bike still accelerating much harder in first gear than most bikes do, like will crawl right up my driveway in first with the clutch pulled in. (lot of bikes do this a little bit I've noticed, but this is excessive).
So far I've adjusted the clutch at the top and bottom ends per manual, following instructions exactly, which seemed to fix the problem until you ride it for a couple of blocks, then it returned. Adjusted chain slack just for the heck of it, which did nothing of course. I called up TWF since they have so much experience with these and he told me to replace a washer behind the clutch hub/basket that gets worn out. I have the clutch removed so i'm replacing the clutch springs, clutch plates, and the aforementioned washer. The washer looks like it is in perfectly fine condition so I'm going to replace it but not confident it will fix the problem.
Basically asking if there is ANYTHING else you guys recommend I change out or inspect while I have the clutch cover removed. And of course any other thoughts/ideas about what is going on here. My personal mechanic told me changing the clutch would be his next step, and TWF offered the washer tip so I'm doing those. Parts are on order.
Thanks in advance for any ideas, I hope I've explained this well enough for the problem to be clear and make sense.
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